Nearly 35,000 civilians were killed last year in Iraq, the United Nations said Tuesday, a sharp increase from the numbers reported previously by the Iraqi government.

Gianni Magazzeni, the chief of the UN Assistance Ministry for Iraq, said 34,452 civilians were killed and 36,685 were wounded last year.

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Earlier estimates had put the number killed at more than 12,000. When asked about the discrepancy, Magazzeni said the UN figures were compiled from information obtained through the Iraqi Health Ministry, operations centers at hospitals across the country and other agencies.

"Without significant progress in the rule of law sectarian violence will
continue indefinitely and eventually spiral out of control," he warned.